How to clean your fabric car seats, carpet & upholstery. (2024)

How to clean your fabric car seats, carpet & upholstery. (1)(Porsche 911, The Norway Car. All rights reserved Singed Vehicle Design)

From time-to-time spillages and mess make the interior of our car dirty, be it a spilt coffee, baby vomit, a smelly pet, pet urine, muddy boots or just a build up of dirt from general use.

Remember back when you first bought your car and the interior seats, carpets and upholstery was spotless with that lovely clean smell? Well guess what, this is easy to achieve at home.

Save yourself some money and give yourself the satisfaction of a clean car interior with a professional valet finish, by doing it yourself.

If all you require is a light clean to remove stains, marks and blemishes we recommend using theIgnition Transmission®. This should also be used as a pre-treatment to help remove stains when machine cleaning with ourInterior Valet Cleaner.

Here are the top-linebenefits of the

  • All-purpose cleaner & stain remover
  • Deodorise & neutralise bad odours

  • Factory-fresh interior finish

  • Effective stain-removing formula

  • Safe to use on all interior fabric surfaces

  • Can be used as pre-treatment before machine cleaning

For a professional Valet deep clean use theIgnition Transmission® For best results you will require an extraction machine cleaner - Extraction machines deep clean by spraying both water and cleaning detergent onto the fabric of your car seats and carpets, then immediately vacuum up the broken-down dirt dissolved in the water-detergent solution.

If you do not own one you can easily rent one which are available from most major supermarkets and hardware stores. To get real bang for your buck, why not clean any upholstery sofas, chairs or carpet you have in your home at the same time? Our Valet cleaner can also be used on these fabric items!

Here are the top-line benefits of theInterior Valet Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner.

  • Professional valeting Carpet & Upholstery solution
  • Cleans, deodorises & removes stains
  • Reactivating odour treatment
  • Suitable for use in extraction carpet cleaning machines
  • Long-lasting fragrance
  • Professional clean finish

How to clean your fabric car seats, carpet & upholstery. (2)(Porsche 911, The Norway Car. All rights reserved Singed Vehicle Design)

How to Clean your Car Seats and Upholstery:

Step 1 -Hoover Car Interior

  • It's obvious but important - Vacuum! Make sure you clean up all the loose dirt and debris, get in there on the seams, nooks and crannies of your seats and carpets. Un-attach any floor mats and clean the carpet underneath, and don'tforget under the seats.

Step 2 - usingCarpet & Upholstery Stain remover

  1. Apply Carpet & Upholstery Stain Remover solution to a pre-wet clean cloth and wipe down any surface dirt
  2. Apply solution directly to any stains and areas you would like to clean
  3. Allow to work for 5-10 minutes (Leave longer for stubborn stains)
  4. Blot with a clean towel or cloth to remove staining
  5. Rinse with clean water and towel dry (or use the extraction machine)
  6. Repeat if needed, until clean (if not using interior Valet after)

NOTE:Some very old stains may be permanent. Always pre-test on an inconspicuous area for any colour changes before use.

Step 3 (for a deeper clean) - usingInterior Valet Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner.

  1. Use theabove steps to pre-treat stains
  2. For extraction machines with one solution tank add 10ml per litre of water. For machines with separate tanks for cleaning solution and water, add half cleaning solution and half water to the cleaning chemical section.
  3. Pull the extractor head along the fabric of the car seat or carpet whilst pressing the spray trigger, moving steady in a straight line at a rate of about 1 inch per second.
  4. Ensure you follow this process to eventually cover the whole fabric area,making sure you pay special attention to any stubborn marks and stitching to extract any hidden dirt.
  5. Repeat the process throughout the car on all upholstery, seats and carpet.
  6. Once finished, your car seats, carpet and upholstery may feel slightly damp. This will eventually dry off.

Pro Cleaning Tip:Allow the car interior fabric to dry completely before going over any areas again. This will prevent the fabric from becoming too wet and taking too long to dry.

Need any further help & advice about our products and how to use them to clean your car interior like a pro? Our team of experts are happy to help - info@dirtbusters.co.uk

How to clean your fabric car seats, carpet & upholstery. (2024)

FAQs

How to clean your fabric car seats, carpet & upholstery.? ›

Start by vacuuming the surface of the seat to remove any dirt and debris. Then, scrub lightly with a mixture of warm water and laundry detergent. If needed, mix in some white vinegar or baking soda to help deal with tough odors or mold growth. Rinse with cold water and let dry before using again.

How can I clean my car seats and carpets? ›

Use a Carpet Cleaner

To do an overall carpet cleaning, use a commercial carpet cleaning powder (dry or liquid) or use the same homemade solution recommended for cleaning upholstery (½ cup distilled white vinegar, 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and 1 cup warm water).

What is the best way to deep clean the cloth seats in your car? ›

5 Steps on Cleaning Cloth Seats Yourself
  1. Vacuum Your Seats. Vacuuming as the first step is essential. ...
  2. Focus on the Stains. After you vacuum, pre-treat any stains you see before doing your overall cleaning. ...
  3. Use the Upholstery Cleaner. ...
  4. Scrub It Away. ...
  5. Wipe Away Residual Moisture. ...
  6. Dry the Seats.
Jan 3, 2023

What is the best thing to clean car upholstery? ›

Combine a tablespoon of highly concentrated laundry detergent with hot water in a bowl or spray bottle. Dunk a towel into the mixture and massage the affected area with a sponge. To remove the detergent from the seat, wet a microfiber towel with cold water, massage the area, and routinely squeeze it out.

What not to use to clean car seats? ›

Don't use chemicals on the shell of the seat – no lysol, clorox, febreeze, baking soda, etc – stick with water, it will get the plastic clean. Last, take a dry rag or paper towels and dry off the seat, paying particular attention to areas with metal.

Can I use Dawn dish soap to clean cloth car seats? ›

Dish detergent may be cheap, but it's also harsher than what you need for car detailing. These products remove grease by design, but they often also take many car protectants with them. They may be OK to use once or twice, but repeated use could wear some fabrics and surfaces down until they start to degrade.

Why put baking soda on car seats? ›

Sprinkling and vacuuming up baking soda in rear- or front-facing car seats can be a quick refresh between washes to keep odors down and help absorb any residual mystery spills.

How do you clean car seats without soaking them? ›

Instructions
  1. Vacuum the Seats. Start by vacuuming the fabric when you're ready to clean your cloth car seats. ...
  2. Pre-Treat Stains. ...
  3. Apply the Upholstery Cleaner Solution. ...
  4. Scrub Away the Dirt. ...
  5. Wipe Away Excess Moisture. ...
  6. Repeat All Steps if Needed. ...
  7. Allow the Seats to Dry. ...
  8. Add a Protective Coating.
Mar 13, 2023

What is the best way to clean fabric upholstery? ›

For fabric upholstery: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar, 3/4 warm water and 1 tablespoon of dish soap or Castile soap. Put in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area. Scrub with a soft cloth until the stain lifts.

What do car detailers use to clean seats? ›

During this phase of the cleaning process, detailers will use steam machines and cleaning gels to remove dust from areas that are difficult to access.

What do professionals use to clean upholstery? ›

Most professional upholstery cleaning services use a process called hot water extraction. Their machine injects hot water and cleaning solution into the fibers of your upholstery to dislodge particles hiding there. Then it all gets sucked up with a powerful vacuum.

Can you use a carpet shampooer on car seats? ›

Even if your couch cushions and cloth car seats look clean, they may have embedded stains and debris lurking in them. One way to find out is to clean these upholstered surfaces with a portable carpet cleaner, which can remove years' worth of soil easily and effectively.

What is the best thing to clean car carpet with? ›

Use any carpet cleaner or a mix of water, dish soap and white vinegar as your cleaning solution. Brush vigorously, before wiping away and removing the cleaner. The trick to carpet cleaning is the drying. We recommend buying or renting a wet/dry vacuum machine to extract the water and cleaning solution.

Can I clean my car seats with a rug doctor? ›

Most car seat fabric is absolutely cleanable with Rug Doctor products. We'd highly recommend hiring the hand tool attachment for cleaning ease when it comes to maneuvering around the interior of a car.

Can you use carpet cleaning solution on car seats? ›

Cleaning the seats

1001 Shampoo can be used for cleaning car upholstery, especially if you're dealing with heavy soiling. However, 1001 Mousse is a carpet care product that well because it ensures that the seats won't become too wet. To use, first vacuum any dirty and crumbs out of the crevices of the seats.

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